What does פָּרַע (pāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
פָּרַע (pāraʿ): Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
Hebrew · H6544
פָּרַע
To loosen ; by implication, to expose , dismiss ; figuratively, absolve , begin
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פָּרַעH6544
Pronunciationpāraʿ
What does פָּרַע (pāraʿ) mean in the Bible?
פָּרַע (pāraʿ): Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
Full entry for פָּרַע (H6544) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render H6544?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include hang loose (2), Avoid it (1), because you neglected (1), become disheveled (1), cast off restraint (1).
Where does פָּרַע (pāraʿ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Exodus 5:4. Its strongest book concentrations include Proverbs (6), Exodus (3), Leviticus (3), 2 Chronicles (1).
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders Ithang loose2×Leviticus 13:45, Leviticus 21:10
Avoid it1×Proverbs 4:15
because you neglected1×Proverbs 1:25
become disheveled1×Leviticus 10:6
cast off restraint1×Proverbs 29:18
come to him who ignores1×Proverbs 13:18
do you draw1×Exodus 5:4
had let them run wild1×Exodus 32:25
had thrown off restraint1×2 Chronicles 28:19
he is to let down1×Numbers 5:18
He who ignores1×Proverbs 15:32
ignore it1×Proverbs 8:33
refrain1×Ezekiel 24:14
take the lead1×Judges 5:2
were out of control1×Exodus 32:25
Show sample aligned rows
Exodus 5:4תַּפְרִ֥יעוּtodo you drawVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralExodus 32:25פָרֻ֖עַtowere out of controlVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularExodus 32:25פְרָעֹ֣הtohad let them run wildVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singularLeviticus 10:6תִּפְרָ֣עוּ׀tobecome disheveledVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralLeviticus 13:45פָר֔וּעַtohang looseVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularLeviticus 21:10יִפְרָ֔עtohang looseVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularNumbers 5:18וּפָרַע֙tohe is to let downConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularJudges 5:2בִּפְרֹ֤עַtotake the leadPreposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct2 Chronicles 28:19הִפְרִ֙יעַ֙tohad thrown off restraintVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularProverbs 1:25וַתִּפְרְע֥וּtobecause you neglectedConjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned rowExodus 5:4
Aligned rows16
Books represented7
Exodus3Leviticus3Numbers1Judges12 Chronicles1Proverbs6Ezekiel1
Source forms
פּוֹרֵ֣עַ2xpō·w·rê·a‘Proverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:32
אֶפְרַ֥ע1x’ep̄·ra‘Ezekiel 24:14
בִּפְרֹ֤עַ1xbip̄·rō·a‘Judges 5:2
הִפְרִ֙יעַ֙1xhip̄·rî·a‘2 Chronicles 28:19
וּפָרַע֙1xū·p̄ā·ra‘Numbers 5:18
וַתִּפְרְע֥וּ1xwat·tip̄·rə·‘ūProverbs 1:25
יִפְרָ֔ע1xyip̄·rā‘Leviticus 21:10
יִפָּ֣רַֽע1xyip·pā·ra‘Proverbs 29:18
Parsing patterns
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural2xLeviticus 10:6, Proverbs 8:33
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular2xProverbs 13:18, Proverbs 15:32
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular2xExodus 32:25, Leviticus 13:45
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular1xNumbers 5:18
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine plural1xProverbs 1:25
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct1xJudges 5:2
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural1xExodus 5:4
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular1x2 Chronicles 28:19
Evidence Summary
Hebrew word. Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
Strong'sH6544
Lexical occurrences16 versesWord forms3 forms11 referencesVerse guides0 guides
Study linkLeviticus 13:45-46Source Gloss
to loosen ; by implication, to expose , dismiss ; figuratively, absolve , begin
Extended definitionSource: Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon + Brown-Driver-Briggs
Releasing restraint: loosening physical bonds, exposing what was hidden, or absolving from obligation through decisive action
to loosen; by implication, to expose, dismiss; figuratively, absolve, begin BDB: act as leader Usage: avenge, avoid, bare, go back, let, (make) naked, set at nought, perish, refuse, uncover.
Grammatical Forms
How the stem changes the meaning of this verb across the biblical text.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms11
Qalbasic active stem — the word in its most common, direct sense8×
Participle passiveExod 32:25 · Lev 13:452×
JussiveLev 10:6 · Prov 8:332×
Participle activeProv 13:18 · Prov 15:322×
ImperfectEzek 24:14 · Lev 21:102×
Hiphilcausative active — the subject causes someone else to perform the action2×
Perfect2Chr 28:191×
ImperfectExod 5:41×
Niphalpassive or reflexive — the subject receives or experiences the action1×
ImperfectProv 29:181×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
Biblical Witnesses
to expose or lay bare, revealing the afflicted condition of leprosy
to dismiss or reject correction, resulting in poverty and shame
to reject or disregard discipline, contrasted with heeding reproof
to let go or abandon, resulting in moral disorder when vision is absent
Showing 4 selected witnesses from 16 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
פָּרַע is a primitive root - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.